Recent statistics show that business owners generally spend 1 percent of what they make in a given year on marketing and advertising. Varying the elements used in your marketing and advertising campaigns is the best way to attract a wider audience.
Some business owners make the mistake of using all of their advertising budget on online campaigns. While these campaigns can be effective, consumers like to have tangible items from the companies they deal with. This is why investing in promotional items like flyers, business cards, and even customized t-shirts is a good idea.
Before you go out to order promotional products, you need to read more about the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Printing setup charges can be costly
Most business owners fail to realize that each time they get a batch of promotional products printed there is a setup charge. Often times, professional printers will do a variety of test runs to ensure that the ink thickness and colors are correct.
The best way to avoid paying tons of money for these setup charges is by anticipating the demand of a particular product ahead of time. Doing this will allow you to get what you need. This means you will not have to worry about going back to the print shop a number of times to get the same items printed due to selling out.
2. The fewer colors you use the better
Before you go in to have a new promotional t-shirt, flyer or business card printed up, be sure to iron out the details of your design. If you are focused on saving money on your new products, you need to use as few colors as possible.
The more colors you use in your design, the higher it will drive up the cost of the project. If you are getting t-shirts printed using the silkscreen method, you definitely want to limit the number of colors used. Each time a different color is used in this process, a different setup is required. This means that it will take a professional longer to perform this job, which means they will charge more.
3. Avoid rush charges
As any entrepreneur knows, the key to having small business success is proper planning. If you are having flyers or other promotional products printed to coincide with the release of a new product or service, you need to give the printer plenty of time to complete this job.
If you have to put a rush on an order due to a lack of planning, it is going to cost you lots of money. Often times, professional printers will charge between 10 percent and 25 percent extra on rush orders. Instead of having to pay this fee, you need to turn this project over to a printer at least 2 to 4 weeks before you need the products completed.
4. Failing to find the best deal
Choosing the best print company to provide the products you need is no easy task. Instead of settling on the first print company you come across, you need to do some research before making this selection.
Going online and looking for coupons for print services is a good idea. Often times, you can find Vistaprint deals on DealNews.com. Taking advantage of these deals can save you hundreds of dollars.
The time and energy invested in finding the right printing company will definitely pay off. An experienced printer can get your promotional products done quickly and correctly.